Difference between revisions of ".Nzk.MjA2NjI"

Latest revision as of 15:06, 8 August 2017

1st

To Magruder- Ewell Camp

The following reminiscences of General John
Bankhead Magruder and of events in and
around Williamsburg, at the beginning
of the War are respectfully offered to the
Camp.  In 1828, when I was appointed a
cadet at West Point I saw General Magruder
for the first time, he entered the Academy
in 1826.  His forefathers were among the best
of the people in Virginia, he was of Scotch
descent, his Ancestors being of the McGregor
Clan, (among whom was Rob Roy) noted for
their skill in cattle lifting.  The General told
a story that during his travels in Scotland
he enquired of some county man if he had
ever heard of the Magruders, a name evidently
derived from McGregor.  The man replied in the
negative but when the General told him that the
name was really McGregor, the man said ok
yes, he had seen one hung for cattle stealing.


                                      2nd

-- the General made no further varieties [struck-through] enquiries.
In 1828 when I first saw him, he was one of the
most soldierly looking men in the Corps and
was much esteemed and respected.  He was
the junior by two [struck-through] ^one years, at the Academy of
Generals Robert E. Lee and Joseph E. Johnson
and by two years of President Jefferson Davis
and of Bishop Polk, afterwards Lieutenant
General in the Confederate Army.  The
latter joined the Church under the min-
istry of the Chaplain to the Cadets, Rev. Dr
James McElvaine, afterwards so well known
as Bishop of Ohio.  A few cadets who became
members, at the same time and who ["and who" struck-through] were
generally seen following in Polks wake
and the party was dubbed by the other
cadets, “Polk and his tail.”?  At this time,
1828, in appearance, in dignified bearing
and in soldierly bearing [struck-through] demeanor – and in
influence over his fellow cadets, there was
none to approximate to the standard as
Robert E. Lee.  I remained at West Point
till 1836, and in these respects I never saw
his equal, there or else where.  Joseph E.
Johnston, noted for his intellect & pleasant
address, gave at that time no premise

                                   3rd

of the genius & practical ability & military
skill as a strategist, his subsequent career
developed.  In 1865, he had more the appearance
of a soldier than any one I ever met in the
Confederate, or subsequently, in the Union
Army.  This unflinching performance of whatever
he deeded his duty, disregarding self & unfriend-
ly criticism proved that he possessed the
highest order of physical, & that rarer virtue,
moral courage.  About the time that of
General Magruder’s closing his career as a
cadet, the Corps was allowed by the
Superintendent to give a Fancy Ball,
a son of his Cooper, the great tragedian, was
a cadet at that time & through his Coopers
influence the lessees of the Park Theatre in
New York, lent the Costumes for the various
characters assumed.  Among them was a
handsome, well formed cadet, representing
in proper Armor, a Knight Templar.  Becoming
fatigued by its weight during the evening
he concluded to take the weighty armor off.
Some of the Cadets persuaded a raw, broad-
shouldered six-footer from the West

                                     4th

to put it on, he got it all right except the
helmet of [struck-through] about which he was uncertain.  He was
finally persuaded that the proper way to wear
it was to strap it around him just below the
small of his back & in this guise he
went strutting among the crowd, comprising
the elite of New York City, evidently enjoying
the admiring glances that were cast upon
him fore & aft.  Mr. Cooper, who was present
declared this to be the best thing he saw
at the Ball.  It is worthy of note that
this original Knight Templar, became
Afterwards a polished & popular Society
man; however this is an episode which I
hope will be pardoned.

5th

About this time General [Gustave Touten  [correct spelling is Toutant]
de] Beauregard entered the Academy.  In
the mean time, General Magruder had
been commissioned as an Artillery Officer.
as such he distinguished himself in
the war with Mexico & was known subse-
quently as Colonel Magruder, having been
brevetted for gallant conduct on the field.
He was fond of ladie’s society and by his
polish and courtliness made himself a
favorite.  After the Mexican War he command-
ed Fort McHenry near Baltimore, visiting
a brother officer one day and being in
fine spirits, he told his friend who
enquired the cause, that he had just
left the Company of a well Known
Baltimore belle who during his visit
to her, looked intently at him for a
minute or two and then exclaimed –
“Colonel Magruder: I now know you
are a slandered man, common belief is
that you wear a wig and dye your
mustache.  I can now assert that
this is not true.”?  Hence the Colonel’s
good humors for he did both.

6th

He told me during our Civil War that
just before it began, General [then
Major] Pemberton, a Pennsylvanian, who
had married an accomplished woman
from Norfolk, visited his head-quarters
then in Washington and with great
emotion told him he came to ask his
advice, he had just received a letter
from his wife in which she told him
if he did not [struck-through] joined in the war against
the South, she would repudiate him;
by the same mail came a letter from
his mother, then living in Philadelphia
saying that if he did not take the
Northern side, she would disinherit him.
he then cried Colonel Magruder “What
Shall [underscored] I do?”?  The Colonels reply was that
before solving so difficult a question, we
had better take a drink of brandy and water.
This they did and soon after the second
drink was taken, Pemberton started
for Richmond.  In justice to his memory,
and I knew him well, I would say that though
unfortunate in his military career, the
South contained no man more loyal to its
cause and its Government, whether

7th

a native or not.  The failure at Vicksburg in
1863, resulting in the Capture of his Army
were caused by his ignoring the Advice
of General Joseph E. Johnson, followed by
positive orders because of the strong desire
of the Confederate Government to retain, at
all hazards, the City of Vicksburg, and
his ^own wishes in that respect.  I was on General
Johnson’s Staff at that time & came to this
conclusion on rea [struck-through] after reading the Communi-
cations between the different parties.
But [struck-through] Soon after the secession of Virginia
and the appointment of General Lee as
the Commander of its forces, I was made
a Major of Volunteers and assigned to
the command of the forces raised in Williams-
burg and its vicinity.  Not long after, the [struck-through]
I having been appointed Lieutenant Colonel,
of the Volunteer Forces of Elizabeth City,
Warwick and York Counties were assigned
to me in addition to those of James City,
Yorktown being within the limit of my
Command.  In a short time Colonel Mon-
tayne with a battalion of three Companies
was ordered to take command at Yorktown.
The only organized and armed company

8th

at first under my orders, was the Junior
Guards of Williamsburg.  A section of
the Howitzer Artillery, under Colonel [struck-through] ^Lieutenant John
Thompson Brown, was ordered to Gloucester
Point on account of some demonstrations
made by Federal Gun Boats previous to
the arrival of Montaynes Battalion.
Lieutenant Brown threw up a small
earth works to protect his guns, which was
fired upon by one of the Gun Boats, but it
was soon driven off by the gallant and
skilful Howitzers.  When this Lieutenant
Brown sent a dispatch to me for an infantry
force to support his guns and about the
same time I received a similar dispatch
from Captain Ap Catesby Jones [correct name is T. Ap Catesby Jones], stationed
at Jamestown, stating that there were
threatening appearances on James River.
I immediately responded by dividing
my force into three Corps, sending the
first Corps under Captain Henley, to the
aid of Lieutenant Brown, the second
under [   blank   ] to Jamestown, retaining
the third for myself in case of need.
The entire command numbered some
forty three men, rank and file.

9th

The arrival of these reinforcements prevented
further attacks on the York River or
threatening demonstrations on the James.
Soon afterwards, Colonel Magruder was
made Brigadier General and ordered to the
Peninsula to take command.  He made his
Headquarters at Yorktown and soon reduced
to order his some what heterogeneous Command,
adding to the defences of Yorktown.  The rapid
movement of his forces produced an ^undue impression
on the Federal Commanders of their strength,
and after the battle of Bethel, they made
no further attempts to advance, until General
McClellan’s invasion.  That Magruder’s judicious
management kept McClellans Army from
advancing up the Peninsula before the
arrival of Johnsons Army cannot be
disputed.  In General Johnson’s “Narrative of
Military Operations”? page 111, he says
“This resolute and judicious course on the
part of General Magruder was of incalculable
value.  It saved Richmond and gave the
Confederate Government time to swell that
officers handful to an Army.  On page 487
in Appendix of Johnson’s Narrative, General
Johnson writes, in reference to the battle

10th

of Williamsburg, that Brigadier-General McLaws
“met the enemy near the line of ^little works constructed
by Major General Magruder’s forethought.”?  This
statement of General Johnson’s that “this line of
little works”? was the result of General Magruders
forethought was a mistake.  The lines were
proposed, determined on & in fact commenced
before General Magruder took command of the
Peninsula.  Judge N. Beverly Tucker, the distinguished
^author and Law _ Professor of William and Mary, told [struck-through] ^described to me
within a short time after my removal to Williamsburg
in 1848, that the topography of the country imme-
diately north and south of the town and that
the distance between two deep creeks the Capitol ["and that...Capitol" struck-through]
he said that the waters of two deep creeks,
both heads of tide water, one flowing into the
York and one into the James at a distance
of only two miles apart, joined a narrow
passage then only roads through which were
the streets of Williamsburg--  This constituting
the strategic point on the Peninsula for
defensive purposes in land operations.
Bearing this in mind as soon as I was
appointed to command in 1861, I planned
a line of works, the right, commanding the
crossing at Tutters Neck, whe being assisted ["whe...assisted" struck-through]

11th


and the left not far from Capitol Landing Bridge.
The ground was accurately surveyed by Professor
T.T.L. Snead.  The main or central work I intended
to have placed in a commanding position near
[          blank              ] house.  General Lee who had just
been appointed Commander in Chief of the Virginia
Forces, visited Williamsburg on an inspecting
tour, went over much of the ground with
me, including Tutter’s Neck, approved of the
^general plan and sent his [struck-through] a young engineer officer
to locate the ["to...the" struck-through] ^Afterwards the distinguished Colonel Alfred
M. Rives [Early in the war, there was a Lt. Col. Alfred L. Rives] to locate and construct the necessary
works.  By the regulations of the United States
Army, no subordinate Military Commander had a
right to interfere with the decision of an engineer
with regard to the location or construction of
defensive [struck-through] works of defence.  In the exercise
of this right, Lieutenant Rives determined
to establish the center work at a point command-
ing the Yorktown and the main James City or
Glebe roads, and to extend the line on what
was known as the Vineyard Tract.  The left being
some distance below the Capitol Landing
Bridge, the right remaining at Tutter’s Neck.
Preferring the line I first selected, I objected
to that of Col Lieutenant Rives as being so

12th

much longer but to no purpose.  General Magruder
after he took command, approved of them
and ordered their completion: but he did
not originate them.  At the conclusion of
the P ["At...P" struck-through]  After the Seven days Battles around
Richmond in 1862, General Magruder was
ordered to Texas where he distinguished himself
at Galveston and by his capture of the Federal
Gun Boat, Harriet Lane, he was much liked
by the Texans.  After the War he went to Mexico
where he was received with favor by the
unfortunate Emperor Maximilian & the
Empress Carlotta.  When the French Army
left Mexico General Magruder returned to
this country and to Texas where he died.
Although he had to contend against adverse
fortune after the war, he declared that he
would not for all the laurels of Grant done
otherwise than to come to the aid and defense
of his State and his people, that his conscience
assured him that he had followed the path
of duty and honor, and come what may that
was enough for him.  He was a humane
honorable man, above intrigue, or les ["or les" struck-through] a
brave, ^judicious and [struck-through] [although easily excited] a l ["a I" struck-through] and
in most respects a since ["in...since" struck-through] on the whole

13th

a successful soldier.  I will close with an anecdote
illustrating his kindness of heart.  Not long
after he went to Yorktown, a colored woman
applied to me as Commandant at Williamsburg
for the release of her husband, a free man who
had been impressed for labor on the fortifications.
She was accompanied by five small children
the youngest apparently the age of ^the martyr John
Rogers youngest, her appeal was well & touchingly
made. I had no authority to order the mans
release but advised her to go to Yorktown with
her children & make to General Magruder,
exactly the same she had made to me.  The result
was her return accompanied by her husband.
Up to the Spring of 1862 when Williamsburg
was evacuated, there were occasional suspicions
& assertions with dis[struck-through]regard to the disloyalty
of some of our inhabitants but every investigation
and there were some searching ones, especially
by that energetic & efficient Officer, Captain
Richardson L. Henley, jailed to discover ^that any
treasonable act to [struck-through] or design to State or Confederacy
was entertained by any citizen of Williamsburg
so long as it was within the Confederate Lines.*
As there is no record that I know of, of the
Companies raised in 1861 in the counties


13½

* at the outbreak of the War, some of the extrem-
ists of Williamsburg seemed to invest their
prejudices toward those who were less
enthusiastic than themselves; with the
veil of patriotism, which apparently led
them to suspect of disloyalty the above men[-]
tioned parties. This was followed by attempts
to have them arrested.  This feeling gained
strength with time, until it almost amounted
to persecution of some of the inhabitants.  Among
them was Travis Southall, who left Washington
for the purpose of entering the Confederate Army
was for no good reason,
^ &     B.F. Marvin, who for a foolish expression
was arrested & sent to Salisbury Prison.  The former
was detained ^in prison until an appeal from his mother
to President Davis obtained his release, and the
latter for eleven months.  Southall on his release
went into service & was true to his colors until
the close of the war.  Marvin was allowed to return
into Williamsburg, then in the Union Lines
& till the end of the war revenged himself by aiding
the families of Confederate soldiers who were
with their Commands.  The best known of
these persons was L.J. Bowden & his brother,
whose arrest seemed particularly desired.
Mr. Bowdens house occupied by his old

13½

*and young daughter & his brothers family
a new and handsome house, was ordered by
General Magruder to be taken for a hospital,
on account of representations made to him,
but as soon as he heard the facts the order was
rescinded.  But a plot was formed among the
privates of a Louisiana Regiment [influenced
no doubt by the tales they heard from the
young officers of the disloyalty of the Bowdens]
to attack the house, drive out the inmates,
break up the furniture, &c & do Mr. Bowden
some bodily harm.  This came by accident
to my ears & I appealed to one of the young [struck-through]
officers, who acknowledged there was some
truth in it, but being remonstrated with, the
origin of the stories explained, & being informed
that any such attempt should be resisted
by the guards in Williamsburg, & of a
company of soldiers camped near there.
That the Messrs Bowden abandoned the
Confederate cause & became Union men,
when McClellan took possession, is not to
be wondered at.

14th
James City, York, and [struck-through] Warwick ^the town of Hampton & City of Williamsburg, and Elizabeth
           City I think it well to mention their
names and their Captains, in James City Co. –
The James City Artillery, Captain Hankins.
A Company of Cavalry, Captain Gettig.
In Williamsburg, The Junior Guards, Captain
John A. Henley [Infantry]
Artillery                                     Captain W.R. Garrett
            Artillery Captain [blank] Cosnahan
In the county of York
                Infantry Captain Sinclair.
                Infantry Captain Tinsley
In the County of Warwick
     The Warwick Beauregards.  Infantry.  Captain Curtis.
The town of Hampton and Elizabeth City Co.—
     The Washington Artillery
     The Wythe Rifles, Infantry     Captain Willis
     The Hampton Grays.  Infantry   Captain Hudgins.
                 Cavalry   Captain ^J. Phillips
who as a soldier gained such an enviable
reputation both in Virginia and Texas
by General Magruders special request he
accompanied him to Texas.
The ten Infantry ^& Artillery Companies, constituted the
32nd Regiment as it was first organized.
The four Artillery Companies were detached

15th

from it and soon assigned to Artillery duties
leaving but six companies in the regiment.
An Infantry Company from Prince Edward Co.--
was afterwards assigned to it.  Until the close
of the war the regiment was incomplete,
having but seven companies as the records
of the regiment were turned over to Colonel
Edgar Montayne when he was made Colonel.
I may have made some mistakes, which
perhaps some member of it may correct.


Magruder Reminescences

BLAIR’S
“OLD     BLEACH.”?
The Paper used in this Writing Tablet is
Probably the best in the world.
TRY IT!
Made from Pure Linen Cuttings.
Uniform price for 4 sizes:
Octavo, Note, Packet and Letter.
RULED OR PLAIN.
Two Shades only, White and Light Blue